Five Reasons to Purchase a PS3 Over an Xbox 360 this Holiday

As we enter the fall season and approach this year’s onslaught of awesome titles, there’s a lot for gamers to be excited about. With a plethora of blockbuster games on the horizon there’s really no better time to go out and pick up a gaming console if you don’t already have one. If you’re reading this article, then chances are you have already have invested in some gaming hardware, but in the event that you don’t and you are either in the market to pick up a console for yourself or a loved one, I’m here to steer you in the right direction. While the Xbox 360 may have a pretty compelling lineup of software and a robust online service, the PlayStation 3 is a far better investment.

Don’t believe me? Take a look at the five reasons I’ve provided below and then mull it over.

5. 3D Gaming

Okay, I know what you’re thinking… 3D is either too expensive or just completely lame. In the case of the latter, I would say that you likely haven’t experienced a quality game built specifically with 3D in mind. Believe me, if you haven’t seen Uncharted 3 running in 3D, then you have no idea what you are missing out on. And as far as the former complaint – regarding the price – don’t forget that Sony is releasing an affordable option for consumers with the upcoming PlayStation 3D display that will come packed with a pair of glasses, the latest entry in the Motorstorm franchise and a 1080p 24 inch display all for $500. While the screen size a bit on the small side, it is still a fantastic way to experience all that this industry’s groundbreaking technology
has to offer.

4. Free Online

Yeah, I know that PlayStation fanboys have been beating this point into the ground since the PlayStation Network launched, but it doesn’t change the fact that free is a far more compelling price tag than $60. Many will make the argument that Xbox Live is worth the price of entry, and that may have been true a couple of years ago, but as time has gone on, the PlayStation Network has evolved into quite a compelling service that can hold its own with the likes of Xbox Live. And don’t even get me started on PlayStation Plus, a service that provides subscribers with some killer deals in addition to free games every week.

3. Blu-ray

Don’t underestimate the power of Blu-ray. While digital content has become quite popular over the past couple of years, disc based media isn’t going anywhere anytime soon and Blu-ray is the undisputed format of the future. The first time you watch a Blu-ray movie in all of its high definition glory, you’ll never want to go back to the shoddy image quality that you get from up-scaled DVDs and streamed content. Plus, today’s games are getting larger, requiring a lot more storage capacity on a disc. DVDs simply can’t carry all of the content required to play some of today’s biggest games so they have to come on multiple discs. While swapping discs may seem a bit trivial, when given the option, I’d take one disc over three any day, and I’m sure you would too.

2. Affordable Price Tag

Picking up a PS3 is now more affordable than ever, with a $250 price tag for the 160GB version, a whopping $50 cheaper than the 250GB model of the Xbox 360. Considering that the hardware packed into the PlayStation 3 is superior to the competition, there is no doubt that the PlayStation 3 is the better value. With a more powerful processor, Blu-ray drive and much more reliable hardware, Sony’s console is hands down better than the Xbox 360. There isn’t much more I can argue on the matter, as the facts speak for themselves.

1. Robust Lineup of Exclusive Titles

If you’re looking for exclusive content, then the PlayStation 3 is the console for you. With Uncharted 3 set to launch later this year and expected earn a whole bunch of Game of the Year awards, the PS3 is one heck of a compelling platform. Let’s also not for get about the fantastic backlog of games including Resistance 3, Killzone 3, God of War 3, InFamous 2, LittleBigPlanet 2, Metal Gear Solid 4, Heavy Rain… do I need to go on? The fact is that Sony has a number of talented developers working on games that will only be playable on the PlayStation 3 and if you don’t want to miss out on them, you’ll need to pick one up. You think that sounds good, just wait until 2012 with the launch of Twisted Metal, The Last Guardian, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, and many more.

Well there you have it. Convinced? Either way, share your thoughts in the comments below.